Hello fellow bloggers! My name is Violet Miehle and today I will be
blogging about Mark Twain’s use of humor. After reading some of Mark Twain’s
short stories a significant of his work it pretty dark and pessimistic. Twain
also uses a great deal of exaggeration when it comes to violence to show the
significance of the flaws within the government and writes about conflicting
gender roles without ever proposing a solution situation. Although Twain often
writes using a dark dispositions on topics leaving a sour and unresolved taste
in your mouth, he also uses a good amount of humor. Twain uses humor to show
the reader the importance of something whether it’s making fun of a stereotype,
a particular race or exaggerating a serious situation to a point where the
reader can grasp the controversial logics that lie beneath the surface.
One way Mark
twain shows humor in his work is by using satire. Twain uses satire as a tool
to make fun of a fun of destructive situations with hopes of creating a
positive outcome. An example of Twain using satire in The Complete Short Stories Of Mark Twain is in the story
Cannibalism in Cars. Twain writes this
story as if the congress men trapped in the train are literally eating each
other. As absurd and extremely uncomfortable that image is, this is not what he
was actually he was trying to convey to the reader. Twain used Cannibalism in
Cars as a satire to teach the narrator a lesson about the corruption within the
government. If he had just explained the ruthless and cold hearted ways of
congressmen the narrator would have just brushed off the conversation and
returned to Washington and carried on his normal ways. However, since the he
used satire, the narrator was left with an everlasting memory and a deeper understanding
of the workings of congress.
Now, the fact
that he is comparing congressmen to cannibals shows that he has a sense of
humor. Twain incorporates humor in Cannibalism in Cars by his uses language. He
is telling a story of people pushed to the point of deportation that they are
actually eating each other and personally I would say this is a pretty serious
situation, but Twain writes it in such a nonchalant tone. He explains his meals
as “…Baker of Georgia was chosen. He was splendid! Well, well--after that we
had Doolittle, and Hawkins, and McElroy (there was some complaint about
McElroy, because he was uncommonly short and thin), and Penrod, and two Smiths,
and Bailey (Bailey had a wooden leg, which was clear loss, but he was otherwise
good, and an Indian boy, and an organ-grinder, and a gentleman by the name of
Buckminster” (Twain, 18). With a description like this you can’t help but
chuckle at the insanity.
Twain also uses exaggeration
as a way to incorporate humor in his writings. Exaggeration is a reoccurring
theme throughout Mark Twains work. Twain uses exaggeration not only for humor
but also to show importance, beauty and negativity. For the purpose of this
blog I am going to stick to his use of exaggeration way to bled humor into his
stories. Twain will be explaining an intense battle or someone’s death and will
use humor to show the absurdity of the incidence. In the story of Buck Franshaw’s Funeral Twain uses humor
when the narrator is explaining the death of Buck Franshaw. The narorator
explains “that Buck Fanshawe, in the delerium of a waisting typhoid fever, had
taken arsenic, shot himself through the body, cut his throat, and jumped out of
a four-story window and broke his neck-and after due deliberation, the jury,
sad and tearful, but with intelligence unblinded by its sorrow, brought in a
verdict of death 'by the visitation of God.' What could the world do without
juries?" (Twain, 86). In this example twain is using humor to make
light of a dark matter. Twain is able to focus the reader’s attention on
specific plots or grasp a deeper meaning of the situation by using
exaggeration.
sources
Twain, Mark, and Charles Neider. The Complete Short Stories of Mark Twain. New York: Bantam, 1981. Print.
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Violet, you really helped me make a little more sense of "Cannibalism in the Cars". Twain's use of humor, especially in this work, make it a lot less painful to read and definitely help to convey his deeper symbolism. The absurdity of the violence parallel the absurdity of the way Congress members may act and Congressional processes. The over-exaggeration and satire used, definitely leave the narrator (and the reader - framing) with a humorous way to remember and understand some political processes.
ReplyDeleteI thought the quote you added about "Buck Fanshaw's Funeral" was important to note as well. Buck Fanshaw very clearly killed himself, but Twain pokes fun at the close minded jury and their religious beliefs. In their religion, it is believed that if someone commits suicide, they are sent to hell. Since Buck was such a beloved member of the town, they all turned their heads and came up with a different story not wanting to believe dear old Buck was burning in hell. It is also ironic because in all actuality, Buck wasn't the best kind of man. He was a frequent gambler, and also got in many fights. Not this typical role model for the Christian religion.
ReplyDeleteViolet I think this is a great continuing piece that you can further in depth throughout the month! You made great examples of the stories we've read and the humorous techniques we have come across so far. Twain's use of humor is a great tool to shine light on the controversies of the past time period as well as present day! My favorite characteristic Twain uses in humor that I'm sure we will continue to touch on is his ability to see the world through the eyes of someone else. I think this quality is part of the core in Twain's humor.
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